Bison briefs

The Bisons cheerleading team got a chance to showcase their talent earlier this month as the squad performed during the halftime intermission of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ June 13 exhibition game.

The Bomber fans, not typically accustomed to this level of cheerleading, gave a spirited ovation to the Bison team who dazzled the crowd with various pyramids, lifts, splits and flips. Very impressive stuff.

Golf

The Bison women’s golf team tied for sixth place at Golf Canada’s 2010 Canadian University and College Championship in Fredericton, N.B. this month. The team missed the third round cut, falling 11 shots behind fifth place, held by University of Alberta. At the same tournament, the men’s golf team earned a ninth place finish after moving ahead four spots to make the third round cut.

“I was quite happy [with] how the men’s team rebounded from a tough second round in the rain and rallied to make the top 10,” Bison golf co-coach, Garth Goodbrandson, said of the results. “The women’s team also had a good tournament and played really solid throughout the three rounds.”

The tournament, originally scheduled to run May 31-June 3, had to be cut short when the fourth and final round was cancelled due to weather.

Football

Late last month, the Calgary Stampeders announced the signing of free agent running back Matt Henry. Henry completed his fourth season with the Manitoba Bisons last year, compiling over 600 rushing yards and leading the team in rushing.

“No player that I can recall has gone through such physical and emotional hardship and has risen above it as Matt Henry has done,” said Bison football head coach Brian Dobie. “He has the character, perseverance and work ethic to overcome, plus Matt has created this opportunity for himself and it is well deserved.”

Outside the world of Bison sports, the University of Waterloo announced this month that the school is suspending its football program for the 2010/2011 season following one of the biggest steroid investigations in Canadian university history.

Student athletes at Waterloo gathered to attempt a compassionate plea for leniency but when the deadline for player transfers passed on June 18, the school administration stood firm on their ruling.

“The decision we announced [ . . . ] was difficult but principled,” said school spokesman Michael Strickland. “We remain committed to our student-athletes and plan to return the football team to competitive play the following year.”

Of 62 club players, nine were found to be using banned substances. Waterloo athletes who did not test positive for banned substances have been granted permission to transfer schools before the start of the football season.